Staff Reports
A drive-by shooter fired multiple rounds into the lobby window of Sacramento’s ABC affiliate, KXTV/ABC10, on Friday afternoon, shattering glass while employees were inside but, thankfully, injuring no one. Police quickly traced evidence to a suspect vehicle and made an arrest the following day, a reminder that political tensions are spilling into real-world violence. The local station and law enforcement have confirmed the scene, the damage, and that investigators are treating this as a serious criminal act.
The shooting came just one day after a small and vocal protest outside the station over ABC’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show amid outrage over his remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Media companies and left-leaning elites rushed to discipline one of their own while the country argued about free speech and accountability — and now a newsroom has been targeted. This sequence of events should make every American uneasy about the climate of intolerance being cultivated in and around elite media institutions.
Sacramento police arrested 64-year-old Anibal Hernandez-Santana and booked him on charges including assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied building, and negligent discharge of a firearm, according to local law enforcement statements. Investigators said identifying the suspect vehicle led them to a River Park residence where officers took the man into custody; the FBI is assisting with the probe as authorities continue to determine motive. While charges have been filed, the true motive remains under investigation — which should not stop the country from demanding strict accountability for anyone who uses violence to settle political scores.
Let there be no mistake: conservatives denounce violence — always — and we stand with any innocent people endangered by a criminal’s actions. But facts matter, and the timing of this attack amid a media-driven feeding frenzy over Kimmel’s comments is not something neutral citizens should ignore. For years, establishment commentators have excused vitriol from one side while weaponizing outrage against anyone who dares push back; when rhetoric becomes a constant drumbeat, some unstable individual may act on it.
Americans of every political stripe should demand two things at once: swift justice for criminals who threaten public safety, and a restoration of responsible discourse from our media monopolies. Big media companies must stop amplifying mob-like indignation and start repairing the trust they’ve squandered with everyday patriots who work hard and want a fair shake. Political disagreement does not justify attacking buildings, but reckless accusations and performative virtue-signaling from cultural elites do contribute to a poisonous atmosphere.
Now is the time for leaders — at every level — to call out violence and to call in the media to stop fanning flames for clicks and influence. We can both protect journalists and hold them to standards of fairness, while ensuring criminals face the full weight of the law. America is stronger than the rage of any fringe, and we must insist on order, decency, and the right to speak without fear of reprisal or of being targeted by violence.
